A first walk on the new I-74 Mississippi River bridge

The human half of LMQC’s outdoor blogger team, Teri Stickler, took a walk on the new, 4-lane Interstate 74 bridge which  spans the Mississippi River at Bettendorf, IA and Moline, IL. It was a walk of a lifetime.

By QC Outdoors Blogger, Teri Stickler

“Joined by a River,” wasn’t that the old saying? And truer words were never spoken as December 1, 2021, saw the dedication of the Quad-Cities newest and biggest bridge spanning the fantastic Mighty Mississippi River, the I-74 Mississippi River Bridge.

Connecting the cities of Moline, Illinois and Bettendorf, Iowa, the new bridge saw over 2,000 pedestrians be the first to walk the main deck of the bridge, enjoy breath-taking views and be a part of history.

Two-legged hikers only, for today.

Kaia and Teri pose at the foot of the new I-74 bridge. Kaia couldn’t explore the bridge this day, but will soon join Teri on another adventure.

As many of you know, generally my dog, Kaia, joins me on our excursions, but this event was limited to only 2-legged individuals, so Kaia had to just come with me earlier in the day and check out the ramp up to the bridge deck, and give her approval to my doing this venture without her.

Once the walkway on the western span is open, pedestrians and cyclists will enjoy spectacular sunset views facing westward.

For those afraid of heights, I took a peek, and the guardrail goes up to my to chest, so I didn’t really experience too much vertigo or fear of the heights. It looks wide enough that a bike could pass by and there’s room to move over. The walking path is about 14 feet wide and is multi-use.

In the middle of the span, there will be a buildout or overlook with a circular window called an occulus in the pavement, so you look at down to the river. That’s not installed yet and the lookout is not open either. On the Iowa side, visitors will take an elevator up to the path, but it is also not installed yet and no date has been shared that I know of.

A bridge built for the future

Following a long history of bridging the two states, the new bridge takes on today’s responsibility of carrying not only cars (estimated to be upwards of 99,900 by 2035,) but also sports a multi-use 14’ wide multi-use path, accommodating pedestrians and bikes and featuring a not-yet completed overlook area. There is also an elevator on the Iowa side to take you up to the walkway.

The Quad-Cities has had its fair number of bridges built across the river.

Looking back at the bridges in our past

The Government Bridge, first surveyed by Robert E. Lee prior to the American Civil War, not only brought wagons across the river, but was the First Transcontinental Railroad bridge. This bridge has been built and rebuilt four times, from 1856 until the current bridge dating 1896.

In 1940 the Centennial Bridge was constructed between Rock Island, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa. This bridge was the first tie-arch form of bridge across the Mississippi River. Once a toll bridge, but now one can drive or walk the bridge, free of charge.

In 1935 the first span of the I-74 Bridge was constructed and in 1960 the second span completed for what became known as The Twin Bridges. Built between Moline, Illinois and Bettendorf, Iowa and currently still overlooking the construction of its replacement, I-74 Bridge was carrying 74,000 in daily traffic, but with no way to expand with the architectural style of the bridge, the decision was made to build a new bridge in its place. One built more than twice the size of the Twin Bridges.

Kaia and I plan to walk the multi-use path as soon as it is completed and we hope you will put it in your plans to come and experience the beauty and grandeur of this place we call home.

Check out Teri’s pictures from her most recent adventure …

“Joined by a River,” wasn’t that the old saying? And truer words were never spoken as December 1, 2021, saw the dedication of the Quad-Cities newest and biggest bridge spanning the fantastic Mighty Mississippi River, the I-74 Mississippi River Bridge.

Connecting the cities of Moline, Illinois and Bettendorf, Iowa, the new bridge saw over 2,000 pedestrians be the first to walk the main deck of the bridge, enjoy breath-taking views and be a part of history.

Two-legged hikers only, for today.

Kaia and Teri pose at the foot of the new I-74 bridge. Kaia couldn’t explore the bridge this day, but will soon join Teri on another adventure.

As many of you know, generally my dog, Kaia, joins me on our excursions, but this event was limited to only 2-legged individuals, so Kaia had to just come with me earlier in the day and check out the ramp up to the bridge deck, and give her approval to my doing this venture without her.

Once the walkway on the western span is open, pedestrians and cyclists will enjoy spectacular sunset views facing westward.

For those afraid of heights, I took a peek, and the guardrail goes up to my to chest, so I didn’t really experience too much vertigo or fear of the heights. It looks wide enough that a bike could pass by and there’s room to move over. The walking path is about 14 feet wide and is multi-use.

In the middle of the span, there will be a buildout or overlook with a circular window called an occulus in the pavement, so you look at down to the river. That’s not installed yet and the lookout is not open either. On the Iowa side, visitors will take an elevator up to the path, but it is also not installed yet and no date has been shared that I know of.

A bridge built for the future

Following a long history of bridging the two states, the new bridge takes on today’s responsibility of carrying not only cars (estimated to be upwards of 99,900 by 2035,) but also sports a multi-use 14’ wide multi-use path, accommodating pedestrians and bikes and featuring a not-yet completed overlook area. There is also an elevator on the Iowa side to take you up to the walkway.

The Quad-Cities has had its fair number of bridges built across the river.

Looking back at the bridges in our past

The Government Bridge, first surveyed by Robert E. Lee prior to the American Civil War, not only brought wagons across the river, but was the First Transcontinental Railroad bridge. This bridge has been built and rebuilt four times, from 1856 until the current bridge dating 1896.

In 1940 the Centennial Bridge was constructed between Rock Island, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa. This bridge was the first tie-arch form of bridge across the Mississippi River. Once a toll bridge, but now one can drive or walk the bridge, free of charge.

In 1935 the first span of the I-74 Bridge was constructed and in 1960 the second span completed for what became known as The Twin Bridges. Built between Moline, Illinois and Bettendorf, Iowa and currently still overlooking the construction of its replacement, I-74 Bridge was carrying 74,000 in daily traffic, but with no way to expand with the architectural style of the bridge, the decision was made to build a new bridge in its place. One built more than twice the size of the Twin Bridges.

Kaia and I plan to walk the multi-use path as soon as it is completed and we hope you will put it in your plans to come and experience the beauty and grandeur of this place we call home.

Check out Teri’s pictures from her most recent adventure …